Special forces from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan eliminate "militant base" during exercise
MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Reconnaissance troops from four countries will conduct a joint practice at the Bagramyan range in Armenia during the final practice episode of the Poisk (Search) 2017 joint exercise, Southern Military District spokesman Col. Vadim Astafyev told Interfax.
The episode will be acted out on Saturday, he said.
"Groups of special forces from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia are to eliminate a large base of mock illegal armed formations," Astafyev said on Saturday.
According to the exercise plot, the base was located earlier by reconnaissance units led by the joint staff of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
"The combat-training operation will involve assault squads of air assault and reconnaissance units from the four CSTO states, as well as the army aviation from the Republic of Armenia Air Force," Astafyev said.
The joint tactical-special reconnaissance exercise involves military commands, military reconnaissance units and special forces groups from the armed forces of six states. In all, over 1,000 personnel, including more than 700 Russian troops, are involved in the Poisk 2017 exercise.
The exercise is led by the commander of Southern Military District troops, Col. Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, as part of the single plotline of the Combat Brotherhood 2017 combat strategic exercise of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force.